Temat: Old Cooking Oil Makes ‘Smart’ Roof Coating

In Energy Department-funded research high on the “gee whiz” scale, scientists reported Sunday they have used old cooking oil from fast-food restaurants to create a “smart” roof coating that behaves as if it can “read” a thermometer, blocking heat transfer during warm weather and allowing it during cold weather.

The new technology, unveiled by scientists at United Environment & Energy LLC at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, said the new coating has the potential to sharply reduce home and commercial energy costs by reflecting scorching summer sunlight and allowing solar heat into a building during cold weather.

“This bio-based intelligent roof coating, compared with a traditional cool roof, could reduce both heating and cooling costs as it responds to the external environment,” Ben Wen, vice president of United Environment & Energy and the leader of the research project, said in a written statement.
http://www.theenergydaily.com/old_cooking/